Reinforced inflatable packer with expansible back-up skirts for end portions



United States Patent [72] Inventor Billy C,Malone 2,092,401 9/1937 Armentrout et a1. 166/187 Houston, Texas 2,222,014 11/1940 Baker 166/122 {21] Appl. No. 728,608 2,519,116 8/1950 Crake.... 166/187X [22] Filed May 13,1968 2,778,432 1/1957 Allen..... 166/187 {45] Patented Nov. 24,1970 2,611,437 9/1952 Lynes.... 166/187X {73] .Assignee LynesJnc. 2,828,823 4/1958 Mounce 166/187 Houston Texas Primary ExaminerJames A. Leppink Tens Attorney-Jack W. Hayden and Richard E..Bee

[54] REINFORCED INFLATABLE PACKER WITH EXPANSIBLE BACK-UP SKIRTS FOR END PORTIONS 25 claims 13 nnwing is ABSTRACT: A re nforced mtIlatable packer w1th expanslble v I back-up skirts for us end portlons wh1ch a1d 1n mhrbitmg ex- Us. Cl. .1 n usion of resilien or semiresilien! outer covering on the I 277/34 packer which might tend to flow at higher pressures, the latter [51] Int. Cl. E2l b 33/12, I being more pronounced at higher temperatures In addition to I 1 23/00 increasing the pressure to which an inflatable packer may be [50] Field ofSearch...., 166/181, i fl t d b f rupture, the backup Skins serve to armorthe 277/1162 34 reinforced packer so that in event of rupturing, after the Rekrmm'cmd packer has been inflated and seated, a bridge or anchor is formed at the location where the packer is placed to form a UNITED STATES PATENTS permanent barrier in an opening, such as a well bore or in a 277/1162 pipe.

2,082,113 5/1937 Layneetal.

Fatented 'Nov. 24, 1976 Sheet fihmwvi h lia/Ill? fi/Yfg/ C Ma/ane INVENTOR Ma da flTTOR/VEYS Patented Nov. 24, 1910 v 3,542,127

Sheet 2 of6 Y .B/Y/ (T Ma/one INVENTOR Magda Md who & Mafllewl ATTORNE YS Emma Nov. 24, 1970 Sheet u llllll l I .HHHE-R fi/'/(y C Ma/one INVENTOR Magda Willow & Mafllwwl ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 24, 1970 Sheet 45 1741 C. Ma/o/ze INV EN TOR Magda W'Amu & Matthew ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 24, 1970 f 3,542,127

Sheet 5 of6 Magda willow & Maflhewl 11 TTORNE YS Patented Nov. 24, 1970 Sheet Magda Wm (K Mafllwwl flTTORNEYS g-u 14 1 W EN.. ham

REINFORCED INFLATABLE PACKER WITH EXPANSIBLE BACK-UP SKIRTS ro'n END non'rrons BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofTheInvention The present invention relates to inflatable packers for insimilar elastomeric material. It is understood, of course, the

other endof the packet Construction is identical to that shown back-up skirt end portions and its relationship to the other dustrial use and having particular utility in openings in oil, gas,

water wells, mine shafts, pipe and the like. More specifically it relates to inflatable packers which may be permanently positioned in an opening such as a well bore or mine shaft, or pipe, and provides an arrangement for anchoring the packer in position as well as increasing the pressure to which the packer may be inflated before rupture and in addition forms abridge or anchor in the opening even if the packer ruptures after it has been sealed against an opening wall.

2. Description of the Prior Art Inflatable packers such as that shown in the US. PatQNos. 2,611,437 and 2,630,864 issued Sept. 23, 1952 and Mar. 10, 1953, respectively, to John Lynes, as well as'U.S. Pat. No. 2,778,432 issued Jan. 22,1957 to George H. Allen and allassigned to the assignee of this invention are generally illustrative of the prior art in inflatable packers. None of these patents disclose back-up skirts adjacent each end portion to serve as a protection for resilient or semiresilient outer covering, or to serve to anchor the inflated packer in an opening.

Additionally,;none of these patents disclose skirt end portions which form a bridge .in an opening should the packer rupture, to retain the packer anchored in the opening and form a permanent seal-off therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The reinforced inflatable p acker of the present invention,

manently set within an opening and retained therein over an extended period of timeeven if the inflatable portion of the packer should rupture or deteriorate over aperiodof time.

Additionally, the construction of the present invention'provides backups which substantially completely enclose the end portions of the inflatable packer to inhibit deterioration of the reinforcing, or of an outer resilient or semiresilient covering by reason of contact with fluids in the opening. In addition, as the packer inflates, the back-up end portions serve to inhibit the extrusion of the resilient or semiresilient outer covering which maybe particularly beneficial in conditions where the packer is used in high'p'ressures and under high temperature conditions. I p

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides an arrangement of double reinforcing for an inflatable packer. p p

A primary object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide an inflatable packer with-expansible annular skirts adjacent each'end portion which expand upon inflation of the I BRIEF DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a quarter sectional view illustrating-one endporj tion of an embodiment of the present invention and showing a form wherein an inner tube is employed in addition to reinforcing anchored at one end of the inflatable packer with the back-up skirt or end portion adjacent the head, such back-up being illustrated in the FIG. 1 modification as being embedded in an outer covering of resilient material such as rubber or components of the form of the invention shown in F IG. 1 and FIG. 2 when the packer is inflated and sealed against the wall of the well bore. The other end portion would assume a similar relationship.

, nally of an outer cover of resilient or semiresilient material and is adjacent the head at that end of the packer. The other end of the inflatable packer is similar to that shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a quarter sectional view showing the inflatable packer positioned in an opening such as a well bore and illustratin'g the relationship of the components when the packer is inflated to seal against the well bore wall and the back-up skirt expanded to anchor against the well bore wall. The other end of the packer shown in FIG. 4 is identical with that shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a quarter sectional view showing a form of the present invention integrally connected with a tubular well tion;

FIG. 6 is a quarter sectional view of the inflatable packer of the present invention with valve means in one of the heads,

and illustrating another manner in which the present invention may be employed;

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are diagrammatic representations showing the initial, intermediate and final relationships of one end portion of the components of the inflatable packer as it is inflated and illustrates the expansion of the back-up skirts or end portions and the inflatable packer to sealingly engage and anchor against an opening-wall such as'a formation in a well FIG. 8 illustrates the relationship of the back-up skirts or end portions of the inflatable packer in an opening such as a well bore, with the packer shown inflated in dotted line and in solid line it is shown deflated through rupture or other means such as deterioration over an extended period of use;

FIG.- 9 is a diagrammatic view of a well bore, and diagrammatically illustrates the form of the invention shown in FIG. 5 in'one application;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing another application of the invention of FIG. 5; 1

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing another application of the invention of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view showing another application of the invention of FIG. 5; and v FIG. 1?: is a diagrammatic view showing another application of the invention represented in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention will be described in detail in connection with its use in an opening such as a well bore; however, it is to be understood that such is for the purposes of illustration only, as the invention may be used where desired in any opening such as in a conduit, pipe, mine shaft or other type open- Attention is first directed to FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the embodiment of the invention therein illustrated is referred to by the letterP. The inflatable packer P includes an annular head referred to generally by the numeral 13 formed by the portion 14 which is threadedly secured by suitable means such as the thread represented at 15 to the annular portion 16. Suitable seal means 17 may be provided between the portions 14 and 16 of head 13 to inhibit the leakage of fluid between the portions 14 and l6'at their threaded connection 15. The annular portion 16 of the head 13 at each end of the packer has on its interior peripheral surface 20 the inwardly inclined surface 21 against which the reinforcing sheath referred to generally by the numeral 22 is abutted.

An annular member 23 is provided with a tapered surface 24 and suitable seal means as shown at 26. The annular tapered member 23 is forced into the portion 16 of the head 13 prior to the time that the portion 14 is connected to the portion 16 and when the member 23 is forced into position shown in FIG. 1, it serves to clamp the reinforcing 22 between the surfaces 24 and 21 to retain or lock the reinforcing in each head of the packer P.

The reinforcing sheath 22 extends between and is connected with each head. It may be of the form described and claimed in U.S. Letters Pat. No. 2,778,432 issued on Jan. 22, 1957, and assigned to the assignee of the present application.

An inner tube 27 extends longitudinally between the packer heads 13 as does the reinforcing 22, the inner tube 27 fitting within the member 13 and may be retained in place by any suitable means such as the ring 32 which is expanded to clamp the end of the inner tube 27 at each end of the packer P within the portion 16 of each of the heads 13, as illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

An outer covering of rubber or other suitable elastomeric material 35 is provided which extends between and is molded to the heads 13 of the packer P and embedded therein is an annular member 40 which serves as a back-up and anchor and will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The outer covering 35 may be formed of plastic, or similar material which exhibits semiresilient characteristics. It will be noted that in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and'2, the lower end of the portion 16 as represented at 41 is provided with an annular taper and the upper end 43 of the member 40 is provided with a taper to enable the member 40 to slightly telescopically fit within the portion 16.

The annular member 40 thus is arranged adjacent the head 13 and extends longitudinally therefrom at each end of the packer P to surround the reinforcing 22 for a portion of its longitudinal extent as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

In FIG. 2 the packer represented generally at P is shown in its inflated and anchored position within a well bore represented at 50 so that the inflatable packer P seats against the formation represented at 52. It will be noted that the outer covering has been compressed and seated or sealed against the wall of the bore due to the internal inflating pressure of the packer P and that the member 40 has been expanded so that a longitudinal portion 53 thereof also is seated and sealed against the formation 52. As the skirt in member 40 expands, it acts to squeeze or urge the rubber or elastic material along the portion 53 of the expansible member 40 so that the expansible member 40 at least along its portion 53 is abutted against the formation 52.

This occurs at each endof the packer P as it is inflated and thus the expansible member 40 serves to substantially seal off the portion of the inflatable packer P which is in engagement with the portion of the well bore 50 from the remainder of the well bore.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the packer P of the present invention is shown as again including a head represented generally by the numeral 13 having the annular portion 14 which is connected by suitable threads 15 to the annular portion 16. The annular portion 16 is provided with a surface 21 similar to that described with regard to the FIG. 1 modification against which the reinforcing 22 is abutted, and also the wedge-shaped member 23 is forced into the portion 16 prior to connecting 14 and 16 together so that, its surface 24 along with the surface 21 of the member 16 serve to lock the reinforcing sheath 22 at each end of the packer in the packer heads 13. Again, the reinforcing sheath 22 extends longitudinally between each end 13 of the packer and an inner tube 27 is retained in position within the reinforcing sheath 22 by means of the ring 32. Seals 26 on the wedge-shaped member 23 serve to inhibit leakage of fluid.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the annular member 40 is shown as being mounted on the exterior surface 36 of the resilient or simiresilient outer covering 35 and if desired the outer covering 35 which is secured to each head 13 of the packer may be reduced in diameter, as illustrated generally at 37 for receiving the member 40 and provide an arrangement so that the packer P is substantially of uniform outer diameter throughout its longitudinal extent. In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the member 40 is again adjacent the head 13 but in this instance surrounds the portion 16 and a portion of the member 14. It may be secured to the member 14 by any suitable means such as the weld 39.

When the inflatable packer P is inflated as illustrated in FIG. 4, the portion 52 or formation 52 of the well bore 50 is contacted by the outer elastomeric covering 35 and sealed thereagainst. Again as is the situation with regard to the modification as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a longitudinal portion represented by the numeral 53 of the member 40 is expanded to seat an anchor against the formation at each end of the outer covering 35 of the packer P. Thus the inflatable packer P is sealed within the well bore 50 and the portion of the inflatable packer P which engages the formation 52 is sealed off from the remainder of the well bore.

In FIG. 5 of the drawings the present invention employing the annular back-up end portions or skirts 40 is illustrated in connection with an inflatable packer which is adapted to be an integral part of a tubular member 60 such as a tubing or casing string for positioning in a well bore or other opening. As illustrated generally by the numeral 61, a valve collar forms a portion of the head 13 to enable fluid to pass from the interior 62 of the tubular member 60 through an opening 63 in valve collar 61 and into passage means 65 formed therein, which passage means is provided with valve means therein represented generally at 64 for permitting inflating fluid to flow through the passages 65 and then between the inner tube 27 and ,the outer surface of the pipe 60 for inflation of the inflatable packer P against an adjacent formation as illustrated in FIG. 2 ofthe drawings.

The end portions, or skirts, 40, adjacent each head 13 would expand and contact the formationSZ at each end of the outer elastomeric body portion 35 to seal off the expansible packer in the well bore and retain it therein. The arrangement of the device illustrated in FIG. 5 (but without the back-up skirts 40) including the valve collar and the integral relationship of the packer with the pipe is disclosed and claimed in the copending application of George E. Conover, bearing Ser. No. 505,559, filed on Oct. 28, 1965 for Packer for External Use on Casing and Liners and Method of Use, which application is assigned to the assignee of this invention.

It should be noted that in FIG. 5 as the inflatable packer P inflates, the upper head 13 will slide along the exterior surface of the tubular member 16 and suitable packing as shown at 68 is provided within gland nut 68 for inhibiting leakage of the inflating fluid; however, should leakage occur over an extended period of time so that the packer becomes deflated, or if the packer should rupture, after the packer has been expanded and set, the expansible members 40 serve to form a bridge or anchor within the well bore in a manner as will be described hereinafter.

FIG. 6 illustrates another mannerin which the present invention maybe employed and in this use of the invention the modification shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is employed. However, the form shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 could be used if so desired.

The inflatable packer P which is to be permanently set within a well bore or opening is positioned therein by any suitable means such as the tubular member 60 which is connected with the head 13. Again the head 13 is provided with the valve collar referred to generally by the numeral 61 so that inflating fluid may be conducted through the interior 62 of the tubular member 60 and through opening 63 in valve collar 61 and into passage means 65 therein, which passage means is provided with the valve means referred to generally by the nuflating fluid is conductedthrough'the valve c'ollar'ol to inflate the packer P against a formation, the skirts'dil'expandand anchors against the formation as does the outer' elastomeric body 35 of the packer P as illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings. Thereafter the tubular member 60 may be threadedly disengaged fromthe valve collar'61 by means well known in the art as the tubular member '60 is threadedly connected with the valve c'ollar61 by meansofthethreadedconnection represented at 62a. The plug 70 is threadedly engaged to the head 13 and the plug'71'may bethreadedly engaged to the lower head 13 sothat after'the packer P is inflated it may be permanently positioned within the well bore.

Whereas in theFIGIS modification the inflatable packer P of the present invention is illustrated asbeing used in conjunction with a tubular member 60 which is to remain withinthe well bore, it can be appreciatedthat in the manner of use of the present invention as represented in FIG. 6 of the drawings the inflatable packer P isto be positioned in the well bore at a desired elevation and then the tubular member 60 disconnected therefrom andwithdrawn'by means of the threaded connection at 62a. At any event, again with regard to the FIG.

6 modification'th'e annular member 40 is-expanded to anchor grammatically. It can be seen iri FIG. 7A that the member40 I at the time that the packer is inflated sufflcientlyto initiate expansion thereof begins to move'radially outwardly and continues such-radial movement until itcontacts'the well formation 52 as shown in FIG. 7B. Inflation of the packer P is con tinued until the outer material forms a seal against the formatio'n'SZand until a longitudinally extending portion 53 of the end portion back up member is"-tightly'sealed and anchored against the formation at each end of the well packer P.

In FIG. 8 of the invention there is'represented a tubular member 60 within the well-bore 5 0 and'in thisinstance the'inflatable portion of the packerP is, represented as being in a deflated position either through rupture or be leakage of inflating fluid over an extended period of time in solid line at 3'5 and in its inflatedposition in dotted line at 35". The present invention by reason of the end or annular skirts 40 adjacent each end portion of the packer having sealingly abutted against the well bore wall and anchored thereto along a longitudinal'extent 53 form a bridge withinthe .well bore to seal off the portion represented at 80 from the remainder of the well bore, Thus a permanent bridge 'or packer is provided even though the inflatable portion of thepacker P may deflate after it has been inflated tosea'lingly engage the wall'or may rupture over an extended period' of time. In the FIG.' 8 modification, the skirts 40 aremoun'ted over the'heads 1'3 asillustrated in FlGS. 3 and 4. One skirt 40 is welded to the-gland nut 68 tions 40, contact with other material or fluids in the well bore is inhibitedand since extrusion of the outer cover 35 is also inhibited or'greatly reduced, if not completely eliminated, the present invention overcomes the problem where an elastomeric outer covering 35 might soften at high pressures which would become pronounced at'high temperatures in a well bore.

FIG. 9 represents one application of the form of invention illustrated in FIG. 5. A well bore 100 is drilled in the earth 101. A pair of spaced packers P of either the FIG. 1 or FIG. 3 construction, having the valve collar 61 as shown in FIG. 5 is integrally connected in a casing or tubular string 102. Port collars 103-which are selectivecirculation subs are also connected in the string 102 between the packers P in the upper portion of FIG. 9, with blank portions 104 extending between the packers P and'po'rt collars 103 to provide a suitable length in the string 102 to accomplish a purpose to be described.

The next port collar 103 is positioned within the enlarged, or underreamed portion 106 of the well bore 100, and a screen section 108 is secured thereto and extends through the enlarged bore 106. A packer P is positioned, adjacent and beneath the enlarged bore 106 in the well bore 100 to which is connected a series of blank pipe sections 104 and the port collars103 as illustrated, and a packer P is shown immediately above thenext enlarged portion 109 of the well bore 100.

The longitudinal parts 111 of the well bore 100 represent partsof the well bore which are to be sealed off to prevent communication with the enlarged parts of the well bore.

In FIG. 9, the enlarged parts represent producing zones such as oil bearing sands. After the pipe or casing 102 is posit tioned in the well bore, the packers P are inflated and if desired, the portions 111 of the well bore 102 between packers P may be filled with cement since the packers P incorporate the skirts 40, apermanent bridge is formed in the well bore 102 when they areexpanded.

A gravel pack 115 is formed in the enlarged parts 106, 109 of the well bore in a manner well known to accomplish a function well recognized in the art.

In FIG. 9, two producing areas are shown, and oilflows through the graveliinto the screens 108 and casing,102. Since the undesired parts 1 11 of the well bore are sealed off, there is many portions as desired of the well bore can be sealed off,

forming part of the head 13, andthe other skirt'40 is welded to the head 13 at the'other end of'the packer Pl One head 13 in- Y flatable packer P may be inflated before rupture occurs.

Additionally, by sealing off the inflatable'packer P and particularly the material between the annular skirts, or end porand there may be more than two different producing zones.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the present invention also allows a multistage cementing. Several zones 115' which are not necessarily producing zones may be encountered in a well'bore 100, and if the complete hole is cemented from top to bottom, some formation may break down causing a great loss of cement. With the present invention, a plurality of separate sections of the well bore may be cemented with cement C andset as illustrated in FIG. 10 to thereby isolate, protect, or separate the formation from the other portions of the well bore 100. Thus, the packers P with back-up end skirts 40 and integrally connected with pipe 102 and lowered in well bore 100 may be used to straddle the zone and the casing then cemented above the upper packer P and below the lower packer P and therebyreduce'the'amount of'cement used.

If the producing zone is a sensitive zone, that is, one which is sensitive to cement, then the producing zone could be isolated by the straddle packer arrangement of FIG. 10 and cement placed above and below the inflated packers P. In this situation, 115 of FIG. 7 would represent the producing zone which is to be protected from the cement; and, of course, the casing-would be'provided with openings for receiving flow from the zone 115.

As illustrated in .FIG. 11, the present invention may be used as a bottom pack-off shoe, which term is well known in the art. Where drilling in a proven area, the well bore 100 is sometimes drilled to the top of a pay section and in other instances, the well bore is drilled through the producing section 120. If the pay section 'is sensitive, that is, is weak and fractures easily due to hydraulic pressure from the cementing operation, the inflatable, packer could be set as illustrated in FIG. 11 with the inflatable packer P permanently connected in casing 102 and seatedin a position immediately above the sensitive formation or pay zone 120 to isolate the zone 120 from the cement C so that the cement will not affect the sensitive formation.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the packer P may be used as a combination liner hanger and pack-off. The packer P will center the liner 125 and provide a pack-off between the liner 125 and casing 102. Cement C is provided for cementing casing 102 in place in the will bore. Thereafter, the packer P is mounted on the blank liner 125 and screen 127 and. lowered through the casing 102 to the desired position in the well bore 100. The external packer 4 is inflated and supports the weight of screen liner 126 secured to the conventional liner 125. Since the packer P sets with pressure rather than weight, this application is good for short liners where the weight of the liner is insufficient to set conventional liner hangers and packoff assemblies as is well known in the art.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, a plurality of packers P may be used for sealing off a casing 102 that is damaged in the well bore 100. The packers P are run with blank liners 125 (a tubular member) to straddle the casing 102 at the point of damage represented at Z of the casing. This repair method is particularly applicable to split casing, corrosion leaks, closing off depleted zones, and temporarily or permanently closing perforations.

While the invention has been described as having a skirt at each end in its preferred form, it will function with only one skirt.

The end skirts 40 may be stressed beyond their yield strength and less'than their tensile strength to permanently form or anchor them against the well bore wall.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape, and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

l claim:

1. A method of permanently setting an inflatable reinforced packer in an opening having a wall wherein the packer is provided with an inner tube, a reinforcing sheath surrounding the inner tube, spaced annular heads receiving the sheath and inner tube, and an outer cover, the heads including an expansible skirt at each end portion comprising the steps of:

a. positioning the inflatable packer in the opening at a predetermined location; and

b. injecting inflating fluid into the inner tube of the packer to yield the expansible skirt at each end portion of the packer to permanently deform each of them adjacent the opening wall by inflating the packer.

2. A method of permanently setting an inflatable reinforced packer in an opening having a wall wherein the packer is provided with an inner tube, a reinforcing sheath surrounding the inner tube, spaced annular heads receiving the sheath and inner tube, and an outer cover, the heads including an expansible skirt at each end portion comprising the steps of:

a. positioning the packer in the opening at a predetermined location; and b. injecting inflating fluid into the inner tube of the reinforced packer to seat it against the opening wall and to stress the expansible end skirts to permanently deform them adjacent the wall of the opening. 3. An inflatable packer for permanently positioning in an opening having a wall comprising:

a. an annular head at each end thereof; b, an annular reinforcing sheath secured adjacent and extending between said heads; and c. an expansible annular skirt adjacent and extending beyond each head and surrounding said reinforcing sheath along a portion of its longitudinal extent so that when the packer is inflated each of said skirts is expanded to engage the wall of the opening and aid in reinforcing and anchoring the packer in position in the opening.

4. The invention of claim 3 including an inner tube within said reinforcing sheath which is anchored adjacent each head.

5. The invention of claim 4 including an outer resilient covering surrounding said sheath for engaging the wall of the opening when the packer is inflated.

6. The invention of claim 4 including an outer resilient covering surrounding said sheath for engaging the wall of the opening between said expansible skirts when the packer is inflated.

7. The invention of claim 3 including an outer resilient covering surrounding said sheath for engaging the wall of the opening when the packer is inflated;

8. The invention of claim 3 including an outer resilient covering surrounding said sheath for engaging the wall of the opening between said expansible skirts when the packer is inflated.

9. The invention of claim 3 including an outer resilient cover extending between said heads in which said expansible skirts are embedded and for engaging adjacent the wall of the opening when the packer is inflated.

10 The invention of claim 3 including an outer resilient cover extending between said heads and positioned between said reinforcing sheath and said expansible skirts for engaging the wall of the opening when the packer is inflated.

11. The invention of claim 4 including an outer semiresilient covering surrounding said sheath for engaging the wall of the opening when the packer is inflated.

12. The invention of claim 4 including an outer semiresilient covering surrounding said sheath for engaging the wall of the opening between said expansible skirts when the packer is inflated.

13. The invention ofclaim 3 including an outer semiresilient covering surrounding said sheath for engaging the wall of the opening when the packer is inflated.

14. The invention of claim 3 including an outer semiresilient covering surrounding said sheath for engaging the wall of the opening between said expansible skirts when the packer is inflated. 1

15. The invention of claim 3 including an outer semiresilient cover extending between said heads in which said expansible skirts are embedded and for engaging adjacent the wall of the opening when the packer is inflated.

16. The invention ofclaim 3 including an outer semiresilient cover extending between said heads and positioned between said reinforcing sheath and said expansible skirts for engaging the wall of the opening when the packer is inflated.

17. An arrangement for anchoring an inflatable packer in a well bore comprising:

a. spaced annular heads;

b. an annular expansible reinforcing sheath secured adjacent and extending between said heads; and

c. an expansible annular skirt adjacent and extending beyond each head and surrounding said reinforcing sheath alonga portion of its longitudinal extent so that when said packer is inflated each of said skirts is expanded to engage the well bore wall to aid in reinforcing and anchoring the packer in position in the well bore.

18. An inflatable packer for permanently positioning in an opening having a wall comprising:

a. an annular head at each end thereof;

b. an annular reinforcing sheath secured adjacent and extending between said heads; and

c. an expansible annular skirt adjacent and extending beyond one of said heads and surrounding said reinforcing sheath along a portion of its longitudinal extent so that when the packer is inflated, said skirt is expanded adjacent the wall of the opening.

19. The invention of claim 18 including an outer resilient covering surrounding said sheath for engaging the wall of the opening when the packer is inflated.

20. The inventioncf' claim 18 including an outer semiresilient covering surrounding saidsheath for engaging the wall of theopening when the packet is inflated.

ally of a tubuc. an inflatable member secured to each of said heads and extending adjacent the tubular member; f

d. an expansible reinforcing sheath secured to each of said heads and extending therebetween; and 7 e. an expansible annular skirt adjacent and extending beyond each head and surrounding said reinforcing sheath along a portion of its longitudinal extent so that when the packer is inflated'eachof said skirts is expanded to engage adjacent the opening wall.

22. The invention of claim 21 wherein the other of said heads includes a packing gland with seal means for sl'idably and sealingly moving along the tubular member as the packer inflates. t a 7 23. An inflatablepacker for positioning externally of a tubular member in a walled opening comprising:

a. a pair of spaced annular heads;

b. one of said heads including a collar having passage means therein which communicates the interior of thetubula'r member with thep'ackeri c. an inflatable member secured to each of said heads and extendingadjacent the tubular member;

,aoL

' d. an expansible reinforcing sheath secured to each of said headsfand extending therebe'tweem a'nd e. an expansible annular skirt adjacent and extending beyond one-of said heads and surrounding said reinforcing sheath along a portion of its longitudinal extent so that when the packer is inflated, said skirt is expanded adjacent the wall of the opening.

24. .An inflatable packer carried by a tubular member for abutting the walls of an opening to thereby plug it comprising:

a. a p'airof spaced annular heads;

b. one of said heads including a collar having passage means therein which communicates the interior of the tubular member with the. packer;

c. an expansible reinforcing sheath secured to each of said L heads and extending therebetween; d. an inflatable membersecured to each of said heads and extending adjacent said reinforcing sheath;

e. aclosuremember secured within the packer; and

f. an expansible annular skirt adjacent and extending beyond each head and surroundingsaid sheath along a portion of its longitudinal extent so that when the packer is inflated each of said skirts is expanded to engage the wall of the opening.

' .25. The invention of claim 24 including a threaded connection between'said inflatable packer andthe tubular member on which it .is carried which maybe disengaged after the packer is inflated to thereby disconnect the tubular member from the packer. 

